Watch for three hot spots:
- Exclusivity: Blocks you from other brands for months.
- Usage rights: Can the brand use your photo/video in ads? For how long?
- Payment schedule: When do you get paid—and how? One bad clause can bench you. Sources: NCAA NIL contract best-practices; overview of key NIL clauses (exclusivity, usage, payment).
First principle: Freedom has value—protect it.
Analogy: Hidden penalties in a board game—small words, big impact.